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Iowa City Bike Library volunteers hope to find a place close to downtown

The Iowa City Bike Library's proximity to downtown has been crucial to its success, so officials with the group hope they can find an affordable location close to downtown when forced to vacate its current location likely before the end of the year.

The Iowa City Bike Library's proximity to downtown has been crucial to its success, so officials with the group hope they can find an affordable location close to downtown when forced to vacate its current location likely before the end of the year.

The Bike Library has had a deal with the city of Iowa City since 2005 to use the former John Wilson Sporting Goods building, 408 E. College St. Iowa City Bike Library volunteer and Steering Committee member Mark Pooley said they knew the day would come when they would need to find a new home.

"The location's always not been set in stone," he said. "We have an arrangement with the city and the city's been very generous, incredibly generous, to let us have it here so it's always been on the horizon, but when it gets to the horizon has been the point of uncertainty."

Pooley stressed that the Bike Library has developed an excellent relationship with the city over the years and understands that the eviction is strictly business for the city. The current Bike Library building will be demolished to make room for The Chauncey, a 20-story commercial and residential development. Pooley said they haven't been given an exact date for when they need to leave but he anticipates it will likely be sometime this fall.

Finding something affordable with decent proximity to downtown has been difficult for the Bike Library, which is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. Pooley said while no plans have been finalized, the Bike Library has considered possible locations on the north side as well as along Gilbert Street near other local bike shops. He added that the Bike Library views area bike shops as partners and doesn't necessarily look to compete with them.

Aniruddha and Shruti Deshpande recently chose to purchase bikes from the Bike Library because they like that the group promotes bike advocacy and gives back to the community in other ways. The couple recently moved to Iowa City to take jobs with the University of Iowa after both earned doctorate degrees in audiology from the University of Cincinnati. Aniruddha Deshpande said he likes the volunteers at the Bike Library teach patrons about basic bike maintenance.

"They help you with fixing your bike if there is something wrong. They teach you how to fix a flat tire or something. That's good for amateur bikers like us," he said.

Shruti Deshpandes agreed that the volunteers showed a high level of customer service.

"All of them that work here a really good," she said. "They're very helpful and they give you good advice, and I think that's very important."

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On a typical Saturday — which is their busiest day of the week — the Bike Library will serve anywhere from 30 to 50 customers, sometimes with lines as long as 10 going out the door and around the building. Not only does the Bike Library help the community by providing bikes, education and other resources, but it also allows the public to donate old bikes that will either be repurposed or scrapped. Pooley said the Bike Library recycles more than 1,000 pounds of metal and hundreds of pounds of rubber every year.

Pooley said they will continue to search for something affordable while trying to remain close to downtown.

"There's going to be a balance that we have to try and strike, a needle we have to thread, and we just have to find it," he said.